What are crypto wallets? Simply put, wallets are a safe way to store your cryptocurrencies. They can be hardware (like a USB drive) or software (like an online bank account, or even a local file). (See our Beginner’s Guide to Crypto Wallets for more.)
In this guide, you will find our picks for the top crypto wallets in four categories — top mobile wallets, top hardware wallets, top desktop wallets, and top hybrid wallets — so that you can choose a wallet that is right for you as an investor.
We’ve rated each wallet on a scale of 1 to 5 in such categories as user-friendliness, security, and level of privacy.
Best Mobile Wallets
| Mobile Wallets | User-Friendliness | Security | Reputation | Number of Supported Digital Assets | Years in Business | Level of Privacy | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitpay | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Coinimi | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1,700+ | 7 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Samourai Wallet | 4.5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Coin Space | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1,000+ | 7 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Trust Wallet | 4.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 53 blockchain and one million assets | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| BRD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Edge | 4 | 4 | 5 | 30+ | 7 | 5 | 4.0 |
| Jaxx | 3 | 4 | 5 | 56 | 5 | 5 | 4.0 |
| Mycelium | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Xapo | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 4.0 |
Bitpay
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 2
- Years in Business: 9
- Level of Privacy: 5
CoPay is widely considered one of the most secure bitcoin mobile wallets on the market.
Launched by BitPay, CoPay is an HD-multisignature wallet that gives users full control over their digital funds. We rate this wallet highly due to its user-friendliness, great reputation, and number of years in business. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
Coinomi
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1,700
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 5
Coinomi is a popular mobile wallet among altcoin investors as it enables users to store a vast number of digital assets in one place.
Coinomi does not hold user information on its servers, which makes it a secure wallet with a high level of privacy for its users.
We rate this wallet highly because of its reputation for privacy and security. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
Samourai Wallet
- User-Friendliness: 4.5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 6
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Samourai Wallet has been created to keep your bitcoin transactions private, your identity masked, and your funds secure, according to the company.
This Android wallet is, therefore, especially popular among bitcoin users who rank privacy highly.
We give Samourai a high score, primarily for its security and privacy. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
Coin Space
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1,000+
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 5
Coin Space was launched in 2013 to support bitcoin and Litecoin users. However, over the years the wallet has broadened its currency base with a focus on Ethereum tokens. The wallet supports both ERC20 and ERC223 tokens.
Coin Space scores highly due to its number of assets and levels of privacy. (BMJ Score: 4.o)
Trust Wallet
- User-Friendliness: 4.5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 4.5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 53 blockchain and one million assets
- Years in Business: 4
- Level of Privacy: 4.5
The Trust Wallet is one of the most popular wallets on the market, with over ten million users. You can exchange and earn crypto, as well as buy, store and exchange NFTs.
Newcomers to the crypto space may find it’s one of the best bitcoin wallets if you’re looking for a secure, easy-to-use, and functional wallet.
Perhaps Trust Wallet’s biggest selling point is that it supports over one million assets and fifty-plus blockchains, along with the ability to access multiple resources all in one place.
We based our rating on Trust’s wallet’s ease of use, range of assets and blockchains, and reputation. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
BRD
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 4
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 4
BRD, also known as Breadwallet, is a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet that supports several digital assets.
The Switzerland-based startup behind BRD wanted to ensure that its users are in full control of their funds, hence private keys are held by the users. BRD was recently acquired by Coinbase.
It scores top marks for ease of use and reputation, but not in other key areas, like security. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Edge
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 30+
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 5
Formerly called Airbitz, Edge is a very user-friendly, multi-asset cryptocurrency wallet.
Edge is considered one of the most secure mobile wallets as it does not store any user information on its servers.
Our rating is based on a combination of security, privacy, and user-friendliness. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Jaxx
- User-Friendliness: 3
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 56
- Years in Business: 5
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Jaxx wallet is one of the most popular multi-asset wallets as it was one of the first mobile wallets available for both Android and iOS that enables users to store a range of digital assets.
Thanks to its integration of ShapeShift, the Jaxx wallet also has an in-built exchange function that allows users to convert digital assets directly within the app.
Although Jaxx has some great features, we rated it lower due to its limited user-friendliness. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Mycelium
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 9
- Level of Privacy: 4
Mycelium is a secure mobile wallet that enables users to store, send and receive bitcoin on their smartphones.
Its simple user interface makes this mobile wallet very user-friendly, and due to the large developer team, the app is constantly updated with new features.
Mycelium has a strong reputation overall but doesn’t outshine its rivals in many key areas such as security or user-friendliness. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Xapo
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 4
Xapo is one of the most user-friendly wallets for beginners offered by one of the most reputable startups in the industry.
Xapo also offers an exchange within the wallet, which makes it easy to buy and sell bitcoin for Xapo users.
We’ve rated it well, based on its reputation and user-friendliness. (BMJ Score: 4.o)
Best Hardware Wallets
| Hardware Wallets | User-Friendliness | Security | Reputation | Number of Supported Digital Assets | Years in Business | Level of Privacy | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BitBox | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Trezor | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1800+ | 8 | 5 | 4.5 |
| KeepKey | 4 | 5 | 5 | 40+ | 5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| CoolWallet | 3.5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 30+ | 5 | 4.0 |
| Ledger Nano S | 3.5 | 5 | 5 | 40+ | 7 | 5 | 4.0 |
BitBox
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 5
- Years in Business: 6
- Level of Privacy: 5
BitBox is a Swiss-made hardware wallet designed for quick and easy plug-and-play storage. Sleekly designed, there are two wallets available, including the multi-crypto wallet and the bitcoin-only wallet.
This hardware wallet scores top marks in all areas. (BMJ Score: 5.0)
Trezor
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1,800+
- Years in Business: 8
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Trezor was one of the first hardware bitcoin wallets to hit the market and has stood the test of time.
This popular hardware wallet enables users to store an array of digital assets offline with the highest level of security possible.
Next to Ledger, Trezor is considered the most secure hardware wallet in the market. When combined with its stellar customer support and a huge range of support coins and tokens, make this one of the best cryptocurrency wallets available today.
Trezor scores straight fives for its security, privacy, and reputation, but some find it has a bit of a learning curve. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
KeepKey
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 40+
- Years in Business: 6
- Level of Privacy: 5
KeepKey is another highly popular bitcoin hardware wallet that allows bitcoin holders to store their digital currency holdings safely offline.
Since its release in 2015, the KeepKey wallet has managed to maintain its status as one of the best crypto wallets in a highly competitive market.
It ranks well for privacy and security but could be more user-friendly. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
Cool Wallet
- User-Friendliness: 3.5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 30+
- Years in Business: 5
- Level of Privacy: 4
CoolWallet is a new type of hardware wallet that stands out with its slick design and convenience, without compromising security. It describes itself as the “best crypto hardware wallet for Bitcoin.”
Users can choose between the standard wallet, or the CoolWallet Pro, which offers support for a wider range of cryptos including Tron (TRX) and Polka.
This wallet is ideal for storing a larger amount of cryptocurrency offline. We rated this well, based on its excellent security. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Ledger Nano S
- User-Friendliness: 3.5
- Security: 5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 40+
- Years in Business: 7
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Ledger Nano S is widely considered the most popular hardware wallet for altcoin investors as it enables users to store a wide range of digital assets, including ERC-20 tokens.
While not the easiest to use, the Ledger Nano S is the gold standard for cryptocurrency investors who want to store multiple coins and tokens offline.
What it lacks in ease of use, it rates well for security and reputation. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Best Desktop Wallets
| Desktop Wallets | User-Friendliness | Security | Reputation | Number of Supported Digital Assets | Years in Business | Level of Privacy | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armory | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Electrum | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Exodus | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Bither | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| Bitcoin Core | 4 | 1 | 4.5 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 3 |
Armory
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 6
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Bitcoin Armory wallet is one of the most secure desktop wallets investors can use to store their bitcoin holdings, and describes itself as the “best bitcoin wallet.”
Bitcoin Armory boasts a cold storage function that prevents hackers from being able to access users’ bitcoin holdings. It is not as beginner-friendly as some of its counterparts, but it is an excellent wallet for safe storage.
While Armory scores well for privacy, some new users find it too complex. (BMJ Score: 4.o)
Electrum
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4.5
- Reputation: 5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 10
- Level of Privacy: 5
Electrum is a downloadable desktop wallet that provides users with an easy-to-use interface so that even beginners can get started with bitcoin using this wallet. Electrum is a reliable bitcoin wallet that gives its users full control over their funds.
Electrum is a strong performer in key areas like privacy and security but requires a learning curve. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Exodus
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4.5
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 31
- Years in Business: 6
- Level of Privacy: 5
Exodus is one of the most reputable desktop wallets as it combines robust security with a high level of user privacy. The wallet is popular among cryptocurrency investors as it allows them to securely hold a wide range of digital assets in one wallet on their computer.
A good, all-around wallet, but could be more intuitive. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Bither
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 8
- Level of Privacy: 5
Bither is an interesting take on wallets as it combines hot and cold capabilities. Through its software, a user can use an unused device as his or her cold wallet provided it is not connected to the Internet. The hot wallet comes in the form of a device utilized every day by the user. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
Bitcoin Core
- User-Friendliness: 4
- Security: 1
- Reputation: 4.5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 1
- Years in Business: 12
- Level of Privacy: 5
The Bitcoin Core client is the original wallet that was launched when bitcoin first started to trade in 2009. Since its early days, the Bitcoin Core wallet has undergone several iterations that have made it more user-friendly. It is still one of the most popular bitcoin wallets among early adopters as it provides ample security and gives users full control over their funds.
Bitcoin Core has a good reputation and it’s well established, but it’s only as secure as your computer. (BMJ Score: 3)
Best Hybrid Wallets
| Hybrid Wallets | User-Friendliness | Security | Reputation | Number of Supported Digital Assets | Years in Business | Level of Privacy | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetaMask | 5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Phantom Wallet | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 6+ | - | 4 | 4.0 |
MetaMask
- User-Friendliness: 5
- Security: 3.5
- Reputation: 4.5
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 2
- Years in Business: 5
- Level of Privacy: 4.5
With 21 million users, MetaMask markets itself as “a crypto wallet and a gateway to blockchain apps.”
MetaMask is a wallet for all Ethereum tokens and coins. It can hold Ether (ETH), ERC-20 tokens, and ERC-721 collectibles (NFTs).
It’s available as a browser extension which is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Brave browsers. Alternatively, you can download the app.
The leading wallet for Web3, MetaMask only loses a few points for security because it’s online and more vulnerable to hacks. (BMJ Score: 4.5)
Phantom Wallet
- User-Friendliness: 4.5
- Security: 4
- Reputation: 4
- Number of Supported Digital Assets: 6+
- Years in Business: –
- Level of Privacy: 4
The Phantom Wallet is a multifunctional wallet for storing, sending, staking, receiving, and swapping tokens via the Solana blockchain. Users download Phantom onto Chrome, allowing them to access blockchain applications securely. It’s also compatible with Edge, Firefox, and Brave browsers.
For added security, Phantom gets independently audited and its wallets are self-custodial, meaning it can’t access your crypto or private keys.
Phantom Wallet is a solid performer, though limited to Solana. (BMJ Score: 4.0)
What’s the Best Crypto Wallet for Me?
When choosing the best cryptocurrency wallet, begin by measuring the security level, usability, storage capacity, and costs, if they apply.
Then ask yourself:
- Is it easy to set up and use?
- What interfaces does it work with? For example, are you looking for a mobile wallet? A PC-compatible wallet?
- Is it safe? What’s its reputation for security? Have there been recent hacks?
- Do you want to store multiple cryptocurrencies? Be sure the wallet you choose supports the digital assets you own.
- Do you want to store large volumes of cryptocurrencies? Then you may want to use a combination of wallets.
- If you’re new to investing, then you may prefer to simplify it and narrow it down to one cryptocurrency by choosing the best bitcoin wallet.
The Takeaway
When you’re looking for the right wallet for your digital assets, evaluate your choices based on important criteria like user-friendliness, security, and level of privacy. The number of users also helps, as a large userbase typically means better support if you run into problems.
Why not join our vibrant community of like-minded investors today? Subscribe to the Bitcoin Market Journal newsletter and gain access to valuable information that will help you successfully navigate the bitcoin, altcoin, and blockchain space.
